DEL
MAR Fairgrounds Equestrian Center  The 59th Annual Del Mar
National Horse Show will host the U.S. Equestrian Reining Seat Medal
Finals National Championships April 23rd  24th, 2004. The
Medal Finals Championship includes three rounds of competition.
Two rounds of reining competition open Friday nights Western
Showcase, April 23rd at 7 p.m. in the Del Mar Arena. The Finals
third round takes place Saturday, April 24th at 12:30 p.m. with
the Awards presented at 6:30 p.m. during opening ceremonies of the
Night of the Horse A Spectacular Equestrian Showcase.

The
prestigious U.S. Equestrian Reining Seat Medal Finals National Championship
is open to all ages, juniors and amateurs, riding any breed of horse.
Its two rounds of equitation and reining for a combined score.
Riders execute one of the prescribed reining patterns found in the
Federation Rulebook and the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA)
rulebook. Riders qualify for the U.S. Equestrian Reining Seat Medal
Finals National Championship by competing at shows holding the U.S.
Equestrian Reining Seat Medal class throughout the country. Riders
earning Top Ten placing in the PCHA/Jack Baker Reining Classic Finals,
AMHA Reining Seat Equitation Medal Final, or the IAHA U.S. National
Stock Seat Equitation are also qualified to compete.

Having
competed in this special class as a youth, and having judged the
event as an adult, I realize what an honor it is to host and manage
such a traditional event, says Western Technical Show Manager
Larry Gimple. This is the second year in a row the Del Mar National
has been selected to host the National Championship. The prize list
will be posted on www.delmarnational.com in March, and entries must
be received by April 15, 2004.

The
AHSA founded the Medal Program in 1937. The National Champion earns
a place in the history books, with the winners name on the
Adrian Van Sinderen trophy and the Glenn Gimple bronze, a custom
made saddle with the distinguished U.S. Equestrian medallion inset.
All riders competing in the Finals receive the U.S. Equestrian Silver
Medal. Individual awards honor the Youngest Rider, the Highest Scoring
Pattern, and the Highest Scoring Equitation, High Score Amateur
and Junior Exhibitor, and the trainer of the Medal winner. Also
awarded is the esteemed Sportsmanship award selected by the finalists
themselves.

Del
Mar Nationals Western Week runs April 22nd to April 25th,
and features 4 AQHA/PCQHA Shows Split/Combined, a Youth State Qualifier,
PCHA Open Horse Show, NRHA Reining Show. Friday nights Western
Showcase also hosts the Sliding Contest and Triple Crown Feeds
the Challenge of the Breeds.

The
Del Mar National is renowned for its 3 weeks of world-class competition,
attracting hundreds of North Americas finest horses and riders
competing for more than $300,000 in prize money.

Dressage
Week takes place April 29-May 2 and features USET Qualifying competition
for 2004 Grand Prix Championships/Olympic Selection Trials, 2004
USET Intermediaire Championships, North American Young Riders Region
7 Selection Trial, and qualifying competition for U.S. Young Horse
Championships. This show is FEI, USET, U.S. EQUESTRIAN, USDF and
CDS approved. Olympic and World Cup veterans will compete in Dressage
Weeks feature event - the Evening of Musical Freestyles -
on Saturday, May 1st at 7:00pm.

Hunter/Jumper
Week runs May 4  May 9th and features the $75,000 HBO Grand
Prix of Del Mar presented by Budweiser an AGA Event on Saturday,
May 8th at 7 p.m. Hunter/Jumper Week is U.S. EQUESTRIAN & PCHA
AA Rated, offers an American Hunter-Jumper Foundation
World Championship Qualifier, Marshall & Sterling League Hunter/Jumper
Classics, West Coast Challenge Hunter Breeding, West Coast Active
Riders Spruce Meadows Selection Trials, North American Young Riders
Selection Trial, and USET, and NAL competition. Highlights of the
week include the $10,000 Marys Tack & Feed Power and Speed
Grand Prix Qualifier on Tuesday, May 4th at 7 p.m., $25,000 Surfside
Grand Prix on Thursday, May 6th at 7 p.m., $25,000 Del Mar National
Open Equitation Championship on Friday, May 7th at 7 p.m., and the
$25,000 California Junior/Amateur Show Jumping Championship on Sunday,
May 9th.